Dozens of pedigree guinea pigs converged on Wollongong to participate in a beauty pageant at Russell Vale Community Hall on Sunday. Prizes were awarded for the fastest eater, craziest hairstyle, best presented, fancy dress and the heaviest contestant. Earlier this month, spokeswoman for the Greater Sydney Cavy Club Alissa Clegg said she was helping to bring guinea pig shows back to the Illawarra after an absence of several years. Known as ‘cavies’, Ms Clegg explained the term comes from the Latin name for guinea pig, cavia porcellus.